The full story...

Adelaide CBD locked down in manhunt for Rodney Clavell

CHRIS UHLMANN: The South Australian capital Adelaide has been in lock down this morning as police continue the search for wanted man, Rodney Clavell. The 46 year old fugitive is wanted for breaking a firearms order. Police have cornered him in a business block in Adelaide's CBD and they believe he's armed. Superintendent Peter Harvey spoke to the media a short time ago.

PETER HARVEY: For the last 14 days the South Australia Police have been conducting a vigorous search for Rodney Clavell who's wanted on firearms offences.

Since one o'clock this morning in King William Street we have had a cordon set up where we suspect that Rodney Clavell is held up. We are trying to make contact with Rodney and have been since one o'clock this morning.

He's not answering a phone that we're ringing and we would like to take this opportunity to appeal to Rodney to please answer the phone, speak to Amery and Alex who want to speak to you to try and resolve this evening and early morning peacefully and safely.

We can, together, work a way for you and the people with you to come out safely and end this peacefully.

CHRIS UHLMANN: Superintendent Peter Harvey from the South Australia Police.

ABC reporter Matthew Smith joins me now from the scene. And Matthew, how dangerous is Rodney Clavell?

MATTHEW SMITH: Well, they believe he's armed right at the moment. He also has a very long and violent past, including a confrontation with the police in the Adelaide Hills several years ago where he was shot. He is also a former prison guard. So this man is being treated as very dangerous and they want this situation to end peacefully. When he has innocent people with him, they're very concerned.

CHRIS UHLMANN: Now you say he has innocent people with him; do they know that or are they just trapped in the building that he's in?

MATTHEW SMITH: No, they're very confident that these people are with Rodney Clavell at the moment. They're hesitant to use the word hostage but that seems to be the situation. They're wanting the situation to end peacefully. When you've got an armed man, it's a very dangerous situation.

CHRIS UHLMANN: Now, he's been on the run for some weeks?

MATTHEW SMITH: Two weeks now he's been on the run. Police have raided more than 80 properties, some more than once. They've been trying to shut down what's regarded as a very dangerous man before a member of the public comes to harm. As I said earlier, he is armed and they're very concerned that things could end badly unless they can talk him into surrendering peacefully.

CHRIS UHLMANN: Now what's been the effect on the city? Public transports been shut down I understand?

MATTHEW SMITH: Well, King William Street is the main street going through the heart of the CBD. Now it's shut for probably 50 per cent of it as well as surrounding streets, so that will cause havoc as peak hour hits over the next hour, causing a lot of problems for public transport, for businesses in these streets. Yeah, it's pretty chaotic here.

CHRIS UHLMANN: Matthew Smith, thank you.

MATTHEW SMITH: Thanks Chris.

CHRIS UHLMANN: That's ABC reporter Matthew Smith who's on the scene at the moment in the South Australian capital CBD, Adelaide, where the hunt for Rodney Clavell has ended with him being cornered in a building by police.

Related Links

From the Archives

Around 500 Indigenous people fought in the First World War, and as many as 5,000 in the second. But many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander diggers who made it home received little or no recognition for their contribution. On Anzac Day, 2007, the first parade to commemorate their efforts and bravery was held in Sydney. Listen to our report from that day by Lindy Kerin.